As I think back to the elementary school shooting that happened a little under two weeks ago, I think back to how the last time that I saw my beautiful first graders was on the same day.  I think that my first graders are some of the most fantastic people I know in the entire world.

For those of you that don’t know, I have a really strong connection not only to Virginia Tech, but to the Blacksburg Community as well.  I love this town – and I am a firm believer that there are other places that are close to as great, but none that really meet the standard that is Blacksburg, in my mind.

Every single Friday, the only day that I don’t have class or work during the week, I wake up nice and early to go tend to these beautiful minds.  I volunteer during a time that they have that is known as Centers, where there is an art center, math center, puzzles, and other various skill-building activities depending on the week.  Harding Avenue Elementary also has what is called an open classroom set up, which means that each of the three first grade classroom share no walls and they get to mingle and intersperse throughout the area freely.  It’s a really remarkable set up.

My first graders not only get a lot of knowledge from me, but I really do learn so much from them, as well.  I’ve volunteered for the same two teachers ever since my freshman year of college, so one of the cooler parts about volunteering there now is that when we go to the lunch room after centers, I get to hang out with kids that I’ve been helping along every single year.  The kids who were 1st graders when I started in the fall of 2008 are now in the 5th grade.  It’s so rewarding to be able to see them, weekly, in the lunch room as well.

My love for the community was really put into perspective with the shootings.  To think about how I might feel if there was another VT shooting, God forbid.  And how, yes, that would make me feel miserable but I would feel even worse if someone harmed the children that I watched grow up over the years.  It really defined, for me, my love with where I am.  It made me realize that it wasn’t just the school but the community as well.

My first graders are unique in so many ways and they learn about me so quick.  Like how they always remind me exactly what time I need to leave the lunch room in order to check out on time and get to work on time also.  About how they always notice when I get a haircut and how they always exclaim about how they like my bald head.  About how strongly they always try to make sure I am included at recess and lunch and everything in between.  It’s remarkable.

I was sharing a beer with an old friend from middle school last week, and he told me about how he was thankful for having met me.  Even though we only knew each other for 2 or 3 years he said that my abilities changed the way that he interacts with people with disabilities on a daily basis.  That really put into perspective what I may be doing for my first graders also.

The number of kids that I see out in the community always touches me. I think back to when I was young and would see older teachers or mentors out in the community and my mind was blown that they didn’t just sleep at school.

I love these kids and I think when I graduate in May 2014 that will be the hardest part – leaving HAE.